In the winter months, every Monday at Legoland is a ‘home school’ day. They discount the admission price from $63 per person to $17 per person in addition to having some extra education classes. Max wasn’t interested in the robotics class that they offered on the day we went, but we all benefited from the reduced admission.

I don’t like water rides. Toby and I rock-paper-scissor’d for the ‘honor’ of riding with Lucy on the water cannon ride. I’m not sure how she did it, but I think Toby cheated. I wasn’t getting too wet until some random grandpa on the outside shot a water cannon right at my ear.

Ugh. Another water ride. But my daughter is soooo happy…

The firefighter show might be Toby’s favorite attraction at Legoland. She and the kids love the stunts and the music (‘Put the wet stuff on the hot stuff’). I also like this show as it provided me with a 25 minute nap on a grassy knoll.

After Legoland closed for the day, we had dinner at Pizza Port in Carlsbad. We had eaten here on our last trip to Carlsbad a couple of years ago. As we sat down, one of the other diners looked familiar. It really looked like a friend of my cousin Tim’s, a guy that I had waterskii’d with a number of times during my high school years. I was not sure, but after I explained to Toby that we used to call him ‘Andre The Giant’ and she replied that he looked rather tall even when sitting, I exited my comfort zone, approached his table and asked if he was Jeff Steffen. He said that he was and had a very blank look on his face. I told him who I was and he immediately recognized the name and remembered me and the ski trips. On reflection (and later web research) I shouldn’t have been surprised to see him at Pizza Port, as Chad Theule had written (many years ago) about a Monday night tradition of Dads and kids at Pizza Port with Jeff as most consistent attendee. For Chad, the tradition was already 8 years old when the article was written in 2005! It is good that the tradition continues even if Chad’s blogging has fallen by the wayside.

We had a vacation planned and (mostly) paid for many months before the troubles at my employer began.  So although there are some uncertainties in our future, we decided to continue with the vacation.  Since the vacation was to Anaheim it was an easy decision to cut a couple days off the trip.  So we have a 5 day vacation with day trips to Knott’s Berry Farm, LegoLand, Disneyland, and California Disney.  It was about a 3 hour drive to the hotel.  Lucy enjoyed the car ride.

We started off our week with a day at Knott’s.  Toby and Max have been studying the Gold Rush times (North Calif, Yukon, South Calif) and so we spent a couple of hours at the Knott’s ghost town.  We talked to a blacksmith, a sheriff, a weaver and other characters from the Old West.  After about an hour and a half of the Ghost Town, Lucy was ready for some rides.  She is quite the daredevil while Max is a bit more cautious.  Lucy had a great attitude about being too small for some of the more exciting rides.  She measures out at 40 1/2 inches tall (with shoes on).

Lucy’s namesake ride.

After closing out the park at 7 pm, we headed over to Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Restaurant for dinner.  This is a special place for Toby as her family enjoyed many happy dinners here when she was growing up.  She and I split some awesome Chicken and Dumplings and fantastic cherry pie.

Tonight, Bub and the kids were in the loft, and he was still wearing his working (on the house) clothes.  Lucy climbed up his back, then slid down, and her belly landed on the reciprocating saw blade that was sticking out of his pocket.  Yikes.  It did a small sleeving of her belly skin, and another slice as well.  It could have been so much worse, of course, so we are greatful to God that it wasn’t.  Man, can that girl scream.  It’s so high and loud I’m sure they could hear it 3 states over.  So, we sprayed it with Bactine and put on anti-biotic ointment and a large bandaid.  Of course we are praying it won’t get infected. 

We said she could watch a Muppet Show (their new favorite).  She paused and said, “But how can I hear it over my screaming?”

Hi – here’s some of our faves from the latter half of last year. 

Lucy, Max and friend Ben at Chuck E Cheese for Max’s 8th bday.

Max and cousins find his birthday treasure hunt bag of Legos.

Important signage at the minature horse farm in Solvang.

Ventura Harbor boat ride for Ya-ya’s 60th bday.

Mr. Soccer (truly, a great defensive player this year) with his biggest fan.

Gran and Don at cousin Chelsea’s beautiful November wedding.

Bride and Groom – Chelsea and Aaron

Thanksgiving Day – (phew!) – Mom saved my butt by cooking 2/3 of the food for our 20 guests.

Lucy and her great-grandmother Cena, who made this little dress 30 years ago for me – amazing!

Us four in our new upstairs digs.  Thank heavens!